Jan 14th, 2015 Dakar Rally Stage 10 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from stage 10 of the 2015 Dakar Rally. The special section of stage 10 is 359km long. Robby Gordon start time: 10:45am/et, and he will be the 9th car off the line. After a 9th place finish in stage 9, Gordon sits 20th in the overall standings. Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2015 Dakar Rally.

2015 Stage 9 Photos

STAGE 10 TRACKING

STAGE 10: CALAMA > SALTA

Connection 501km | Special Stage 359km | Total 860km

COURSE OVERVIEW

The motorcyclists and quad bikers will set off for their second marathon stage! After the Chile-Argentina border, this time the day’s special stage will start on the Salinas Grandes, more than 3,600m above sea level. The altitude should curb the competitors’ enthusiasm and cool down their engines. The more technical final phase will separate the toughest of them from the rest. For the liaison section, the route will then follow the Paso de l’Acay, at an altitude of 4,970m.

The GREEN section of the route is the connection , the RED is the Special Section of the stage.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by speedy7 on January 14, 2015 at 11:57pm

WOW, way above my head..

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Permalink Reply by TOG on January 14, 2015 at 11:58pm

and they can't change the block.

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Permalink Reply by robbyfansinceimsa on January 15, 2015 at 12:02am

Exactly, just like most endurance racing like the Rolex 24, the only things you cannot change is the block and chassis

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Permalink Reply by robbyfansinceimsa on January 15, 2015 at 12:06am

If they had everything to do a field rebuild it is legal to remove the engine and basically rebuild it. I would think time is the problem. If they could they would have done it on rest day, they probably upped the oil pump pressure and used thicker oil

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Permalink Reply by speedy7 on January 15, 2015 at 12:17am

I thought these Aussie mechanics could do anything, but I guess not a oil pressure issue, maybe no parts to fix it....thinking out loud again....

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Permalink Reply by ivanspeed on January 15, 2015 at 12:49am

sucks to have no capability to fix anything inside motor onto parker or australia sst

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Permalink Reply by WJM on January 15, 2015 at 12:07am

The lower altitudes and cooler temps should help.

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Permalink Reply by StefanYuhas on January 15, 2015 at 1:04am

Yeah that was sorta my thought too, The out of balanced flywheel knackered the bearings. He knows the problem so hopefully by taking it easy he will get to the finish.

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Permalink Reply by FD REBEL on January 15, 2015 at 1:25am

Yes modular engine design has very close tolerances in the rotating assembly so running it out of balance can pound out the soft bearing material enough to cause low oil pressure, things like rods cams and crank will fight their way out.

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on January 15, 2015 at 2:53am

It would be a job but changing the entire rotating assembly, bearings, all consumables overnight could be done. RG and speed crew. I can be available for you next year. Just sayin.
A pleasure to watch and be a part just absolutely exhilarating from this end.

And getting sick.... does anyone actually feel the pressure like Rob does. Its life.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Abrams on January 15, 2015 at 9:00am

Yeah FD this was my concern the day they had the flywheel issue but everybody here told me I was way off base and it was not an issue.

Thrashing flywheels are never kind to a lower end.

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Permalink Reply by FD REBEL on January 15, 2015 at 9:19am

Exactly, this is why harmonic dampeners are used, even the slightest vibration, over time can pound out the soft bearing material of the throws, mains and thrust bearings. It's a very easy test.. You pore oil from the pan through a napkin, if it has zinc or brass/copper in it... YOUR MOTOR IS TOAST, DONE, CRATORED, FIN, OVER..